Hearse



(No Model.)

D. SCHMITT.

HBARSE.

UNITED ySTATES PATENT. OFFICE.

DANIEL SCHMITT, OFNEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

H EARSE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 269,122, dated December 12, 1882.

Application fusa June 15, issn. (No model.)

To all whom. itmag/ concern:

Beit known that LDANIEL SCHMITT, a citizen of the United States,

in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hearses; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ot' the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference heinghad to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which forni a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements by means of which a hearse may beincreased or diminished in capacity, so as toreceive either a small or large sized coftin, at pleasure, thereby avoiding the necessity ofan undertaker having'more than one or an extra large or small hearse for special purposes.`

My improvements will be hereinafterfully described and shown, and finally pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the several figures, Figures l and 2are elevations of the front portion ot' a hearse illustrating two forms of my invention. Figs. 3 and 4 are detail sectional views of the saine, taken through lilies a: and y, respective] y.

Heretofore itfhas been necessary for undertakers or liveryrnen, as a rule, to keep three diiferentsized hearses, in order to appropriately meet the demands for small persons or children, ordinary-sized persons, and` those of extraordinarily large size. i

In carrying out my invention I provide a hearse, preferably in front, with an..` adjustable extension adapted to slide or open in and out, so that the length of the hearse may be increased or diminished some eighteen inches, more or less, at pleasure. This extension is constructed and arranged in one case as follows: A frame, a, Figs. land 2, provided withv a glass or panel, b, Fig. 4; as may be preferred, is secured to a top or slide,'B, which, together with the frame, is arranged to slide in and out horizontally between the roof and its inside lining in suitable grooves arranged therein for the purpose. On the inside of said residing at Newark,

frame a, at the outside edges, are hinged two glassed or paneled frames, c,which, when the extension is in use, open outward and fasten l by means ofsuitable catches to the sides of the hearse, completely tillnig up the side space and extending thelength ofthe interior chamber of the hearse, as indicatedin Fig. 1. Vhen the extension is not in use the franies or panels turn inward or back, and fasten against the frame a by appropriate hooks or other fastenings, as indicated.

4Suitable rollers, f, are provided to facilitate the operation of moving the extension in and out when required. Suitable dowels, g, at the bottom of the frame engage with corresponding apertures in the back end of the boot, when the device is in use, to assist in holding it in position.

In Fig. 2 the extension sides are shown hinged instead of sliding in and out, in which case the top B, instead of sliding under the roof, is hinged at the top of the boot I), and when in use opens upward and engages with the front end of the hearse, as indicated. The glassed or paneled frames G are hinged to the froiit end ofthe hearse, as shown in Fig. 3,at each side instead of to the frame, as above described, and when extended open outwardly and fasten' against the side ofthe boot D, or to the top B, and when notextended close and fill up the front, as will be readily understood by examining the figure last referred to. In this case the frame a is dispensed with. It is manifest, however, that th'e top may be hinged to the end of the body and the frames to the sides ot' the boot, if preferred. Thus the extension is inclosed on all thc exposed sides.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and wish to have secured by Letters Patent isl? A hearse provided with an adjustable extension, whereby the body may be lengthened or shortened to receive a long or short cofln, as set forth.

2. A hearse provided with an adjustable extension iuclosed upon all the exposed sides, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a hearse,tl1e combination, vwith the body thereof, vof an adj ustableframe or frames adapted to t into and inclose the end, andto ICO 2 comme i be moved. in and out to increase and diminish frames C, arranged and operating substanthe length of the body, as and for the purpose tially as and for the purposes set forth. set forth. In testimony that I claim the foregoing I 4. In a hearse, the combination, with the have hereunto set; my hand this 25th day of 5 the bodythereof, of a frame, as a, top or slide, May, 1882.

as B, and frames, as c, arranged and operztt- T ,i i ing substantially as and for the purpose set DALIEL SGMHT' forth. Witnesses 5. In a. hearse, the combination, with the OLIVER BRAKE, 1o body thereof, of the adjustable top B and JOHN MINKE. 

